MEASURING SUCCESS

 Measuring Success

When St Kevin’s Boys was established in 1959 one of its main aims was to provide football for the young people of the area.

However the founding fathers had an underlying, secondary aim. That was to develop our young members properly in terms of behaviour, attitudes and discipline so that they could take their place in society. This meant that our club had social and educational roles as well as a narrow sporting role. The club has always attempted to develop its members in a holistic manner and not simply in a narrow sporting context.

In the early years it was decided that, as far as possible, we would provide football for as wide a spectrum of abilities as possible. Unlike many other clubs we did not concentrate only on the top, elite players. As time went on the number of our teams increased hugely and we were stretched to our limits to provide mentors and facilities for the huge numbers of teams wishing to play every week.

Sometimes our efforts were so stretched and diluted that our premier teams suffered when compared to those clubs who only catered for premier teams. As a result we were losing players (and coaches) as our standards were perceived to be below an acceptable level. In recent years, with the development of our clubhouse, all weather facilities, our own pitch, a dedicated director of football and a club coach and a club academy with links to English clubs our football standards have risen enormously. We are now competing for, and winning, premier leagues and All-Ireland cups in a manner few of us could have dreamed of some years ago. As a result we are no longer losing players in the same way as we were. In fact we are now attracting players from a wider hinterland. However we continue to measure success using the original yardsticks of the founder members. Of course we want success on the pitch. However we also continue to provide a recreational outlet for as many players as possible. In fact in the season just finished we had the largest number of teams that the club ever fielded (45 teams to be exact). We continue to provide sport for as wide a range of abilities as possible by fielding second, third, fourth and (remarkably) fifth string teams. Each team is provided with training on two nights of the week and with a match at the weekend. Not only that but each team is expected to behave and conduct themselves to highest possible standards.

In recent times our contribution to the community and the wider benefit of the area and of the members in our charge has been commented on by a succession of visitors to the club These include the Gardai, social workers, religious and educational figures politicians, the CEO of the FAI and even the President, Mary McAleese. It is a difficult task to maintain the highest playing standards and to continue to provide quality leadership for a wide range of teams. With the help of over one hundred, dedicated and committed volunteers we continue to measure our success according to the twin goals of our founders. The four hundred participants in this summer’s road leagues are only some of the beneficiaries of this policy.

Michael O’Callaghan

Chairman

St Kevins Boys